Part 38 (1/2)

' the children wanted to know.

It was Sarel who shouted: ”Neptune, of course,” and when Alethea asked him why, gave her an impatient look.

”We're reading

”The Little Mermaid” ,” he explained, as though that made everything clear.

The children were to stay up for dinner; Alethea, in her room with Nel

unpacking her case, wandered round looking for the exact spot upon which to put the musical box. The little drum table near the window, she decided; it would be safe there because it was out of the way.

She would let the children see it presently.

She had already told them about it and they had listened politely and

she had been encouraged by Sarel's: ”Did Papa buy it for you?

' ”Well, yes,” she had told him carefully, 'we saw it in a shop window and I found it enchanting, so he got it for me.

I shall take care of it always; it's so beautiful.

' Dinner was almost a celebration, with ice cream for the children and

a good deal of talk about Neptune, now cosily asleep upstairs in the playroom with Nero, a little suspicious, but friendly enough, beside him.

They went quite eagerly to bed as a consequence, thanking Alethea for her presents in polite voices, reminding her that Nanny was having her day off, so she would have to give her the sweets in the morning.

Alethea watched them go upstairs and then turned away with a little sigh of relief.

Everything was going to be all right; she had worked herself up for no reason at all.

Even Nanny might be good natured in the morning.

She went back to the drawing room to find Sarre on the point of leaving it.

He said a little absentmindedly: ”You'll forgive me, my dear, I have

quite a lot of post to read and I want to catch up on some reading.

' He paused to drop a kiss on her cheek.

”A very pleasant little break,” he added, 'we must do it again some

time.

' He went into his study, leaving the door open, and she heard him lift the receiver and dial a number, and Seconds later: ”Anna. .

' She couldn't understand any more of what he was saying.

She turned out the lights and went up to bed.

During the last few days she had quite forgotten Anna.

Half way up the staircase she paused to encourage herself with the

reflection that at least the children seemed more friendly.

The bedside lamps were on when she got to her room, her nightgown was lying on the bed and her gown and slippers had been put ready.

How different it was from her little room at her grandmother's house!